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New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib (31) and defensive back Logan Ryan (26) run during a stretching session before NFL football practice at the team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. The Patriots are scheduled to host the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football divisional playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 11. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
(Stephan Savoia)

The hit Wes Welker delivered on Aqib Talib during Sunday's AFC
title game may have been the worst play Bill Belichick has ever seen, but the participants escaped mostly unscathed.

While the hit knocked Talib out of the game, the cornerback
suffered no structural damage to his knee and was "just banged up," according
to a source.

Talib, who was playing on a one-year deal, emerged as one of
the NFL's better cornerbacks and will likely be sought after if New England
fails to sign him to a new contract. The All-Pro can become an unrestricted free agent in March.

The hit that knocked Talib out of action occurred with a little more than 13
minutes remaining in the second quarter. Denver receiver
Demaryius Thomas ran a route over the middle, which caused Talib to crash into Welker,
who was coming across the field in the opposite direction. The two initially
collided up high, then got their legs tangled as they fell to the turf.

"I think it was a
deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib,"
Belichick said during his Monday news conference. "No attempt to get open.
I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play, whatever they decide.
It's one of the worst plays I've seen."

Talib allowed Thomas to make one catch for
29 yards. After he went down, Alfonzo Dennard primarily assumed the role of
tracking Thomas, who finished with 134 yards receiving.

"I was trying
to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and
wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided," Welker said.
"It wasn't a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that. I
hope he's OK. He's a great player and a big part of their defense."